Mobile apps have become part of all our lives in the digital age. According to a 2023 report, users spent almost 16 billion hours on mobile apps, which points out that their universal importance will carry on.
With constant advancements in mobile app development, and raining-in technologies and frameworks coming up every now and then, choosing the best approach becomes quite challenging.
The biggest and maybe most common dilemma faced by business owners is native vs cross-platform app development.
In this article, we will focus on the pros and cons, the common myths, and the six factors that will help you choose between native and cross-platform mobile app development.
Native Mobile App Development
You must know there are two major target operating systems: Android and iOS. Native mobile app development means developing an application for a specific mobile operating system.
Development teams use specifically designated programming languages and tools to design applications, which differ for each of the platforms.
For instance, native Android apps are built using Kotlin or Java, while those of iOS are built using Objective-C or Swift.
The cost of native app development remains high across the US, with native mobile app development Houston, New York, Texas, and other major cities being particularly expensive.
On average, the cost of developing a native app across the US ranges from $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the app’s complexity, features, and the development team’s expertise.
Native App Development Pros
- Being developed in the native platform’s core programming language and APIs, native apps are faster and much more responsive than any other application.
- Native apps deliver a user-friendly experience because the UI design is baked according to the guidelines of the design, as mentioned by the platform.
- Native applications can directly reach and interact with all of the hardware features of a device, such as a camera, microphone, or GPS.
Cons of Native App Development
- Separate developers are required for native applications, it also needs more input of development cost and time.
- The multiple teams associated with the same project might result in a complex situation like a method of communication and proper collaboration among teams, etc.
- The code for Android and iOS is different, one can expect possibly inconsistent behavior by an application across the two platforms.
Cross-Platform App Development
Simply put, cross-platform app development is the development of apps that work on more than one specific operating system with a codebase structure that they share.
Instead of creating two distinct apps for Android and iOS, the developer writes one set of code that works for both. Then, with the help of most used frameworks for cross-platform, such as Flutter and React Native, code works both on an Android platform and iOS.
A mobile app development company will typically charge you ranging from $80,000 to $250,000, depending on the complexity and features required.
Cross-Platform App Development Pros
- This practice allows a developer to share the same codebase on many platforms without duplication of work. And since there is code reusability among the platforms, it cuts down on development costs to a large extent—this form of development—is ideal for small startups or businesses.
- Developing cross-platform applications will directly increase development speeds since developers have to write less code and test it.
- Since there is code reusability among the platforms, it cuts down on development costs to a large extent—this form of development—is ideal for small startups or businesses.
- Developers can be attracted to using modern cross-platform technologies, such as those that are keen to work with up-to-date tools, leading to increased motivation and satisfaction among team members.
Businesses are increasingly opting for this strategy to create apps that work seamlessly across multiple platforms while managing costs efficiently.
When searching for mobile app development Denver, Chicago, or any other tech firm across the USA, it’s important to consider the growing trend toward cross-platform app development.
Cons of Cross-Platform App Development
- A good number of developers have claimed that cross-platforms have no ability whatsoever to outdo native apps.
- No access to native Features. In general, platform-specific features are used differently with cross-platform frameworks, sometimes much more than usual.
- Cross-platform apps cannot often maintain an effective UI with perfect consistency across all platforms.
Debunking Common Myths About Cross-Platform Development
Though cross-platform technology has advanced a lot, some myths or misconceptions exist about the performance. Here are some of the common myths:
Myth: Cross-Platform Apps Suffer from Poor Performance
Reality: Performance for cross-platform apps depends on the tools and frameworks that are put in place. Modern frameworks and tools like Kotlin Multiplatform compile code natively for each platform, so the performance is even better than native apps.
Myth: Cross-Platform Apps Are Not That Secure
Reality: Proper security measures can be taken by cross-platform apps to reach the level of security that native mobile apps offer. Data protection strategies can be easily implemented by developers, irrespective of the platform.
Myth: Cross-Platform Apps Don’t Use Native Features
Reality: Although some frameworks limit access to all native features, the more advanced tools, such as Kotlin Multiplatform, enable access to device capabilities that can really help close the bridge between native and cross-platform development.
Managing Cross-Platform Projects Is Difficult
While creating for all platforms at a time, a considerable reduction in the overhead of project management is noticed as developers can share code and contribute to the project especially effectively.
Key Features to be Considered for Choosing Cross-Platform or Native Development
The choice is made by considering the following factors.
The Type and Purpose of the App
Determine the type of the app to build and the main purpose. If it requires complex functions and high UI customization, then native. But if quick access to Android and iOS users is your goal, the cross-platform development will be better.
The expertise of the Team
Consider the experience of your team with various programming languages and tools. If your team has substantial experience in some of the languages, such as Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android, then native development can be facilitated.
On the other hand, if your team has experience using cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native, working on a multiplatform basis will be more accessible and more productive.
Long-Term Viability
Consider the longevity and stability of the platform or framework that you propose to use. Well-established frameworks, have an active community and are backed by companies like Google for Flutter or Facebook for React Native, will likely have long-term support and resources.
Development Costs and Budget
It really depends largely on your budget. Generally with native apps, you require more resources because you have separate codebases for each platform. Cross-platform development has a common codebase, thus more easy on your pocket.
Moreover, the location of your development team can also affect the budget. If you hire developers in the States rather than hiring cheap experts from India or Sri Lanka then it’ll likely increase the budget.
That’s because there is a significant margin in hourly rates as mobile app development New York, Miami, and other major cities is higher. But again, if you want your team in front of your eyes all the time, then that’s another story.
Industry Adoption
Look out for industry trends and what your developers are using. Most often, platforms with a strong community, robust libraries, and established best practices will result in a more seamless experience during the development process. Both Google Trends and Reddit can help you make an informed decision about which technology to use.
Learning Resources
Consider how easy it is to find documentation, tutorials, and other learning resources about the chosen technology. The more well-documented frameworks always have better community support, making the development process seamless.
When to Choose Cross-Platform Development
Cross-platform development is ideal under the following conditions:
- You need to develop an app for both Android and iOS. Cross-platform frameworks allow you to target both audiences without maintaining separate codebases.
- You’d like to save development time. A shared codebase means you write and test the code for more than one platform. You decide on a single codebase with UI control.
You are open to experimenting with new-age technologies: With time, new tools and techniques are coming into the field, making cross-platform development more effective and providing better user experiences.
When to Choose Native Development
Use native development when:
- Your app has a target platform. If you have a target in view between Android and iOS, native development will ensure maximum performance and user experience.
- If the user interface needs to be very customized, native development will be the most flexible.
- Your team already has specialized skills for native app development, so it will be more efficient to stick with the technologies they are familiar with.
Conclusion
Based on a definite project, its needs, and resources, different features are present both in cross-platform development and native app development.
Each has its pros and cons, so it’s very careful to consider everything that has been stated above in this post. Also, you should be aware of the latest trends in development to make your choice correctly.
However, it doesn’t matter what way you take; what matters is to keep your development strategy within your business goals and user expectations. Consideration of options will let you create a mobile application providing experiences of an amazing sort and, importantly meeting your most important objectives.
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Tags: Native Mobile Development